Acetylene-gas generator.



PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

A. E. SOHLIBDER. AGETYLENB GAS GENERATOR.

3 SHEBTBSHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5, 1904.

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PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

A. E. SGHLIEDER. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION P-ILED OOT.5, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0,, WASHINGTON. a. c.

PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906. A. E. SOHLIEDER. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5, 1904.

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AUGUSTUS E. SOHLIEDER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MONAROHAOETYLENE GAS COMPANY, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, A CORPORATION OF NEBRASKA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906.

Application filed October 6,1904. Serial No. 227.237.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS E. SoHLIn- DER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-GasGenerators, of which the following is a specificatron.

This invention relates to acetylene-gas generators of that type in whichthe calcium carbid is automatically fed to the water-receptacle orgas-generator in accordance with the consumption of gas.

The objects of my invention are to provide improved means whereby therefilling of the carbid-receptacle is prevented when the feed opening oroutlet thereof is open, to provide a simple and effective agitator forthe carbid, and to otherwise improve on gasgenerators of this typewhereby high efficiency and simplicity and economy of construction andoperation are attained.

To these ends the invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts to be hereinafter described, andparticularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical elevation of my improvedgenerator. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the lower end ofthe carbid-receptacle and the neck or upper portion of thegeneratingchamber. Fig. 8 is a vertical section takenon line 4 4, Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the mechanism whereby the carbid-agitator is operated. Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of thecarbid-crit-ofi valve. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 7is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form of cut-off valve.Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are enlarged vertical sections of the controllerrodwhich governs the opening and closing of the cut-off valve, said rodbeing shown in connection with the controller-lever and both beingshownin different positions. Fig. 1 1 is a cross-section taken on line12 12, Fig. 9. Fig. 12is a horizontal section taken on line 13 13, Fig.8. Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the valvecontroller lever. Fig. 1 4 isan enlarged section taken on line 15 15, Fig. 1. Fig. 15 is an enlargedvertical section of the upper portion of the carbid-receptacle and theclosure therefor. Fig. 16 is a bottom plan riew of the closure attachedto the upper end of the carbid-receptacle. Fig. 17 is a top plan view ofsaid closure, showing the same secured to the carbid-receptacle.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like letters of reference refer tolike parts in the several figures.

The reference-letter A designates the gasgenerating chamber, having agradually-tapering neck a, on which the carbid-receptaole B is secured.

O designates the gasometer, which is of the usual type, comprising asuitable fluid or sealing receptacle 0, containing water, oil, or anyother suitable fluid, and a gas bell or holder 0, which rises and fallsin accordance with the gas-pressure. A gas-supply pipe 0 connects thegas-generator with the gasometer.

The carbid-receptacle B may be constructed in any suitable manner, butas shown has its upper and lower ends tapered, its upper end beingprovided with an opening I) for replenishing the supply of carbid.

A suitable frame D is secured to the upper end of the carbid-receptacle,and formed thereon is alock-post D,having a notch, as at d, to providean inclined bearing-face d for a lock-bar E, which is provided with anopening e between its ends to permit of its being slid over thelock-post and to be held thereon. Secured to the frame D is a bushing F,around which a rubber gasket f is placed, and bearing against saidgasket is a cover F, by means of which the supplyopening in thecarbid-chamber is closed. A thumb-screw G is passed through a threadedopening in the lock-bar and is adapted to be screwed against the cover Fto securely lock the same. -Wl1en the thumb-screw comes in contact withthe said cover, the lock-bar E is elevated, and the upper edge of theopening e engages the notch (1, formed on the lock-post and checks thefurther movement of the lockbar, while permitting the screw to lockagainst the cover.

Held in the upper end of the neck a of the generating-chamber is ahopper H, and closing the lower end of said hopper is a cut-off valve H,secured to a rock-shaftH journaled in the neck of the generating-chamberand. in a bracket h, secured to said neck. The valve H is provided witha convex valveplate having angular ends h, one of which is provided witha stub-shaft 7L2, which enters a bearing h secured to the wall of theneck a, and the other end having a socket h, into which the rock-shaft His secured. The cutoff edge 7L of the valve-plate is curved andsharpened to a knife-edge. By this construction the carbid is fedgradually to the generating-chamber when the valve is being opened, andwhen the valve is being closed the valve-plate shears the carbid andprevents particles of carbid from lodging between the valve and itsseat.

I designates a shaft which is journaled in the bracket h and in the necka of the generating-chamber, and secured to said shaft is an agitator z'in the form of a star-wheel, which loosens the carbid and preventswedging of the same in the hopper H. The said shaft I is revolvedthrough the medium of a gear-segment i, secured to the rock shaft H anda pinion i secured to the shaft I, with which said segment is engaged.On the rocking of the rock-shaft the shaft I is revolved.

The gas bell or holder 0 has secured thereon a controller-rod J, whichis guided in its movement by a guide-bracket J, secured to thefluid-receptacle c. Said rod is by pref erence formed U shape incross-section and is provided with a transverse pin 1' and a verti calslot j, through which acontroller-lever K passes at certain times. Thesaid lever is secured to the rock-shaft H and comprises two sections K Kthe latter section being secured to said rock-shaft and the section Kbeing pivotally connected to the section K as at k. The section K islonger than the section K and the free end thereof coacts with thecontroller-rod J. This construction permits the cut-off valve to beclosed by hand without changing the relation of the section K to thecontroller-rod, which is essential when the carbid-receptacle requiresreplenishing, and the gas bell or holder 0 is in such position thatthrough the medium of its attached controller-rod the controllerlever,and the rock-shaft the cut-01f valve is opened. Such manipulationprevents the escape of gas from the generating-chamber while refillingthe carbid-receptacle, thereby preventing possible explosion. Thepivoted section K of the controller-lever, which has its free end inengagement with the controller-rod, is provided with a stop againstwhich the section K is held, and with a look if, by means of which saidsection K is locked against said stop, thereby locking the two sectionstogether. When thus locked, the oontroller-baris operated by themovement of the gas bell or holder, which when filled and elevated to acertain point is positioned relatively to the controller-lever K, asshown in Fig. 10, in which position or when in a more elevated positionthe cut-off valve is closed. When the gas stored in the gas-bell isbeing consumed, the said bell and the attached controller-rod drops andthe free end of the controller-lever K enters the slot 3" in thecontroller-rod, and as the controller-rod is lowered still further thesaid lever moves downward with the rod and causes the cut-off valve tobe opened, thereby allowing a quantity of carbid to be deposited in thegenerating-chamber and causing generation of gas, which is led to thegasometer through the pipe 0 As shown in Fig. 11, the two sections ofthe controller-lever are disposed in different directions, the section Kbeing in proper relation with the gas bell or holder 0, while thesection K is swung upward and held in such position by the lock 7: Whenthe parts are thus positioned, the cut-off valve H is closed, while theremaining cooperating parts retain the positions they assume when thecut-off valve is open, thereby preventing the escape of gas from thegenerator, while replenishing the supply of carbid. If for any reasonthe lever K is held against free action and fails to lower with thecontroller-rod as it enters the slot j therein, the transverse pin insaid rod will engage the said lever and force the same downward, theweight of the gas-bell 0 being sufficient to overcome any binding of thevalve-actuating mechanism. By this arrangement the charging of thegas-generator is assured under any condition.

, In order that the supply of carbid may not be replenished while thecut-off valve H is open, I provide means to prevent the opening of thecarbid-receptacle unless the cutoif valve is closed. This isaccomplished by the use of a lever L, secured to the rock-sh aft H andby providing said bar with an aperture Z, through which the lower end ofa rod L projects, said rod having its lower end enlarged to prevent itswithdrawal through said aperture and having attached to its upper end achain Z, which is secured to the free end Z of the lock-bar E. When therock-shaft H is rocked to open the gas-valve, the lever L is moveddownward and in its movement engages the enlarged lower end of the rodL, thereby tightening the chain Z and drawing downward on the free endof the lock-bar E, which prevents the disengagement of said bar from thenotch on the lockbar, and consequently prevents removal of thecover F.

The fluid-receptacle c is provided with a partition M near its lower endto form a fluid sealing-chamber M, which is filled with water, oil, orany other suitable fluid, and secured in an opening formed centrally insaid partition is a filter N of any suitable shape, but herein shown ascomprising a cylindrical casing l extending from a point near the bottomof the chamber M" to within a short distance of the upper end of thefluid-recep tacle c and having three perforated partitions n, the lowerone of which has secured or formed thereon a depending hood 0, havingits lower edge on a level slightly above the lower edge of thefilter-casing N. Extending from the upper end of said hood centrallythrough the perforated partition is a gas-conduit O, which connects saidhood with the gas-bell c.

The inlet of the gas-supply pipe 0 terminates in the hood 0 and isprovided with a flaring open-ended head P, having itslower edgeserrated, as at p, to permit the gas to pass gradually around the lowerend thereof, thence up through the gas-conduit O into the gas-bell c.The head P is so positioned that the lower serrated edge thereof isslightly above the lower edge'of-the hood O, and by thus arranging thesaid head within the hood 0 and similarly arranging the hood within thecylindrical filter-casing the lower end of thelatter is immersed deeperin'the fluid than the lower end of the hood, which, however, is immerseddeeper in the fluid than the lower end of the serrated head P. Thegenerated gas passing around the serrated end of the head P rises abovethe surface of the fluid within the hood 0 and passes up through thegas-conduit into the gas-bell. In thus sealing the gas-inlet the escapeof gas from the gas-bell is prevented, the pressure therein beinginsufficient to displace the fluid and free the inlet.

\Vithin the filter-casing N and surrounding the gas-conduit between thelowest perforated partition and the intermediate perforated partition Iinterpose charcoal or other suitable material, and between the uppermostpartition and the intermediate partition a quantity of batting, cottonwaste, or other suitable material is placed.

Entering the filtering-casing N between the lowermost perforatedpartition and the surface of the fluid in the chamber M is a gas-supplypipe R, which may be led to any place for use. The gas stored in thegas-bell c is forced through the filtering material and out through thesupply-pipe.

A safety device is provided to allow the escape of excess pressure fromthe gas-bell, and it comprises a tube S, secured to and carried with thegas-bell c. Said tube is closed at its upper end and is provided with anaperture 3 near its lower end, which is immersed in the fluid in thetank 0. An escapepipe T, open at both ends, is secured with its lowerend in the partition M and extends up into the tube S, and when the gasis generated excessively the gas-bell 0 will be ele vated until theaperture 8 in the tube S is brought above the surface of the fluid inthe gasometer, which permits the escape of excess generation throughsaid aperture into the escape-pipe and out through a connec tiont'thereof, which is led into the open air. The excess generation willalso cause isplacement of the water in the lower end of thefilter-casing and break the seal to permit the escape of gas through thelower end of the filter-casing and out through the lower end of theescape-pipe T into the open air.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings I have shown the valve II reversed, in whichcase the angular extensions thereof lie on opposite sides of the hopperH and the carbid rests on the concaved surface of the valve.

I do not wish to confine myself to the exact construction or arrangementof parts shown, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes asfairly fall within the scope of my invention, limited only by theappended claims construed according to the prior art.

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a gas-generator, a carbid-receptacle having a supply-opening, acover for said opening, a lock-post'secured to said receptacle inproximity to said cover and having a notch formed thereon, a lock-barhaving an opening therein and being held. on said lockpost and adaptedto engage said notch, a thumb-screw passing through one end of saidlock-bar and bearing against said cover to lock the same, and a chainsecured to the other end of said look-bar, said chain when drawn tautserving to prevent disengagement of said lock-bar from the notch on thelock-post.

2. In a gas-generator, the combination of a carbid-receptacle, agenerating-chamber connected with said carbid-receptacle, a gasometerconnected with said generating-chamber, a vertically-slotted rod securedto said gasometer and being adapted to rise and fall therewith, arock-shaft suitably journaled, a valve secured to said rock-shaft andserving to open and close communication between the carbid-receptacleand the generating-chamber, and a lever comprising two sec tions lockedtogether and being secured to said rock-shaft, said lever being adaptedto lie against said slotted rod and at certain times enter the slottherein, and being also adapted to have its sections unlocked to permitthe rock-shaft to be rocked manually. 3. In a gas-generator, thecombination with a carbid-receptacle, a generating-chamber connectedwith said carbid-receptacle, and a gasometer connected with saidgenerating-chamber, of a rock-shaft suitably journaled, a valve securedto said rock-shaft and serving to open and close communication betweenthe carbid-receptacle and the generating-chamber, and a lever comprisingtwo sections and actuated by the rise and fall of the gasometer, one ofsaid sections being secured to the rock-shaft and the other sectionbeing pivoted to the first-mentioned section coincident with the axis ofsaid rock-shaft.

the first-mentioned section coincident with.

the axis of said rock-shaft.

5. In a gas-generator, the combination with a carb1d-receptacle, agenerating-chamber connected with said carl;)idreceptacle,

and a gasonieter connected with said generating-chamber, of a rock-shaftsuitably journaled, a valve secured to said rock-shaft and serving toopen and close communication. between thecarbid-receptacle and thegenerating-chamber, and a lever comprising two sections and actuated bythe rise and fall of the gasometer, one of said sections being securedto the rock-shaft and the other section being pivoted to thefirst-mentioned section coincident with the axis of said rock-shaftandextending beyond the end of said first-mentioned section, said leverembodying means to vpermit of locking both sections together.

6. In a gas-generator, the combination with a carbid-receptacle, agenerating-chamber connected with said carbid-receptacle,

and a gasometer connected with said generw ating-cha-mber, of arock-shaft suitably j ournaled, a valve secured to said rock-shaft andserving to open and close communication between the carbid-receptacleand the generating-chamber, a lever actuated. by the rise and fall ofthe gasometer and comprising a short section secured to the roclcsha-ftand a long section pivoted to said short section coincident with theaxis of said rock-shaft, and locking means on the long section to lockboth sections together.

7. In a gas-generator, the combination with a carbid receptacle, agenerating-chamber connected with said carbid-receptacle, and agasometer connected with. said generatmg-chamber, of a rock-shaftsuitably j ournaled, "a valve secured to said rock-shaft and serving toopen and close communication between the carbid-receptacle and thegenerat- -5 ing cham-ber, and a lever actuated by the- :rise and fall ofthe gasometer-and comprising a part secured to the rock-shaft and a partpivoted to the first part coincident with the axis of the shaft, saidlever embodying means 6 to permit of locking both parts together, sothat the said valve is actuated during both the rise and fall of thegasometer.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of twosubscribing 6 witnesses.

AUGUSTUS E SCHLIEDER. Witnesses:

BERT MAsoN, EDWIN MA-rER.

